Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale , OL12 8TS Newsletter Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co Autumn Term 2018 Issue 3 19th October 2018 Calendar Dear parents and carers

October It has been a very successful and an extremely busy first half term for everyone. 2018 Events such as Awards Evening at Rochdale Town Hall, Y6 Open Day and Open Evening and Y5/Y6 Parents’ tours, Y11 Revision Evening, Y7 Cheese and Wine / 17th October 2018 Information Evening and Headteacher’s Coffee Mornings have been opportunities to Y7 Settling in Evening celebrate and showcase the work we do in school; whilst a variety of trips organised Cheese and Wine by Geography, Music, Drama and Performing Arts, PE, and our recent Duke of - Edinburgh expeditions, have widened students’ horizons and offered learning 19th October 2018 experiences beyond the classroom. Half Term - Members of our Governing Body have already met on six occasions to focus on the 29th October 2018 key areas of Leadership and Management; Teaching, Learning, Assessment and School re-opens Outcomes; and Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare, as well as having attended our events and supported the positive ethos of the school through their November work with parents and students on our Behaviour Panels. 2018

Our new Y7 cohort has settled in very well, as evidenced by the wide range of 6th November 2018 certificates presented on our Cheese and Wine Evening: for making an excellent Y11 V-cert-Food Exam start in subjects; excellent Learning Journals and Home Learning booklets; 100% - Attendance; for being Literacy and Numeracy Champions and for representing the Y11 V-Cert- PE school in a positive way. Congratulations on a great start to your careers here at - Whitworth Community High School. WC 12th November 2018 Y11 Mock Exams For Y11 students, there is a strong focus on boosting knowledge, building skills and Week 1 thus being well-prepared for GCSEs, and their first chance to demonstrate their - understanding and their ability to revise, rest, review, rehearse comes shortly after WC 19th November 2018 the half term holiday with the first set of mock exams. This is followed by Y11 Y11 Mock Exams Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 28th November. Week 2 - 21st November 2018 Finally, school closes for half term at 3.00pm on Friday 19th October and reopens on GCSE Presentation Monday 29th October and I wish everyone safe and enjoyable week. Evening - 28th November 2018 Y11 Parent’s Evening Best wishes 5pm-7pm

December 2018

11th, 12th & 13th December 2018 School Production

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co

Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Newsletter Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co Attendance

Please note that our new absence number for texting is 07418343218 alternatively you can phone the school on 01706343218 as usual.

If you text to notify us of your child's absence, please include their Name, Reg Group and reason for absence.

Medical appointments

Where possible, medical/dental/opticians appointments should be arranged out- side of school hours. If this is not possible, parents/carers should ensure that their child is absent for the minimum amount of time possible and that evidence of the appointment is provided.

Consideration will be given to pupils attending hospital appointments for investigations or treatment where a hospital letter or appointment card has been provided.

A full day’s absence will not be authorised for routine appointments. If an ap- pointment letter, card or letter from the parent/carer is not provided then this may result in the student being marked late or the absence may be recorded as unauthorised.

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co

Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Newsletter Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co Y11 Mock Exam Timetable

WEEK 1 Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Mon English P1 English P1 Geography & History Geography & History Tues Maths P1 Maths P1 X Band (inc Y cs & dt) X Band (inc Y cs & dt)

Wed Science Science

Thurs Maths P2 Maths P2 RS RS/Travel & Tourism Fri Science Science

WEEK 2 Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Mon English P2 English P2 History History Tues Maths P3 Maths P3 Wed Science Science Thurs Fri Y Band Y Band

Home learning club

Open to students from any year group to enable them to have a quiet space within school to focus on getting some of their independent work completed.

It is held on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 3-4 pm in room L6, supervised by Mrs L Williams, Academic Mentor. Achievement point will be awarded to students who attends.

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co

Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Newsletter Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co Duke of Edinburgh Bronze & Silver

Congratulations to our intrepid Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants and staff who battled the elements over the weekend to complete their Bronze or Silver Practice Expeditions. Our two Y11 Silver groups were ready to go wild camping way up in the hills, but a weather forecast risk assessment determined a last minute change of plan. Instead, they spent the first night camping locally – on the school field where they managed to erect their tents despite the wind and rain. The following morning, wearing black bin liners which they claimed gave extra protection but were also a style statement, they were joined by our two Y11 Bronze groups who had their rucksacks weighed (well done to Dom Pratt for having the lightest ever Bronze expedition rucksack – although he did discover he had forgotten to take a fork/spoon/knife!) and equipment checked before heading off. The Silver group set off from Lumb and walked their planned routes over to unaccompanied but remotely supervised by Mr Cawley and Mr Clayton, whilst the Bronze groups set off from school and navigated across the hills to reach Turn village with either Mr Crook or Mrs Middlemas, before completing the later part of the walk independently. Undeterred by the intermittent rain, the ‘Speedy Boys’ (and girls) reached the top of Knowl Hill in the windiest conditions, whilst the ‘Lost Boys’ (who were fortunately not lost for too much of the time) took a route over Hail Storm Hill. All arrived at the campsite safely, cooked and camped overnight before the Silver groups trekked back to school on Sunday while the Bronze groups hiked on to for a minibus pick-up. An admirable team effort, support for one another and a determination to succeed despite blisters, leaky tents, and a shortage of jelly babies made for a great weekend. Thanks to staff involved – including Mrs Ellis, Headteacher’s PA, who kindly volunteered to sleep overnight in the fitness suite as the female member of staff on call!

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co

Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Newsletter Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co

Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Sportspage Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co Great Y7 gymnastic Great photo of Oliver and Ryan Well done to Jake Brearley who lessons looking at body from last year when they won 2 won Bronze in the Judo tension . trophies and reached last year’s Championships in Well done to all the ESFA quarter final with Y8. ESFA Alkmaar, Holland this weekend students involved 2nd round coming up soon.

Great Y9 and 10 VCERT PE lesson on connect 3 with questions related to the skeleton and muscles.

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co

Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Sportspage Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co

Great afternoon at Shrewsbury playing some fantastic matches. Well done to everyone who played.

WCHS 3-4 Shrewsbury WCHS 5-1 Shrewsbury WCHS 9-1 Shrewsbury Whitworth didnt start playing till A battling performance A great performance with the second half but battled hard with Whitworth scor- some fantastic goals well done and were close to getting a draw. ing 3 goals late to win to everyone. (Jamie W, Oliver B & Sam W ) comfortably. (Archie, Todd, Dominic & (Connor K, Cameron S Nathan) & Lucas T.)

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co